Category Archives: Articles by Patricia Walter

Patricia Walter writes articles about hip resurfacing, doctors, post op care, pre-op suggestions and other helpful hints about hip resurfacing. She is the owner and webmaster of Surface Hippy. The website features hip resurfacing information, doctors list, personal stories and a discussion forum called Hip Talk.

Articles About Hip Resurfacing by Patricia Walter

Hip Resurfacing Information at Surfacehippy Posted on by
… Read the rest

Hip Resurfacing Information at Surface Hippy

Hip Resurfacing Information at Surfacehippy Posted on by

Hip Resurfacing is an excellent bone-preserving option instead of a total hip replacement. The Surface Hippy Website features information about hip resurfacing for perspective patients. Patricia Walter conceived and designed Surface Hippy website. Patricia had her hip resurfaced in March 2006 with Dr. De Smet of Belgium. She felt there was a need for a website to help people learn about hip resurfacing. She knew first hand that it was a wonderful solution for a hip replacement and wanted to help others learn about hip resurfacing. Visit Pat’s Corner to read her informative articles about hip resurfacing including How to … Read the rest

Subpoenas Against Surface Hippy – Editorial by Patricia Walter

Hip Resurfacing Information at Surfacehippy Posted on by

An information website like https://surfacehippy.info should not be served subpoenas or be sued.  I truly wonder what is wrong with our world.  If every website providing information was sued, the internet would be a very empty space without any information.

Why would any lawyer think https://surfacehippy.info could possibly tell a person if they were a candidate for hip resurfacing or that they must/should have a hip resurfacing?

I want my readers to know that my website https://surfacehippy.info never tells anyone to have a hip resurfacing. The website provides information about hip resurfacing.  I am not a doctor or medically trained … Read the rest

Pat’s Corner – Why I Chose a Hip Resurfacing

Hip Resurfacing Information at Surfacehippy Posted on by

My hip hurt, my body hurt and I needed a new hip. I had fought hip pain for almost ten years because I just did not want “half my leg bone cut off” to get a new hip replacement. It just did not make sense to me that doctors were still sawing off a big hunk of a femur bone to replace a hip. We sent men to the moon, had nuclear power and every kind of electronic device imaginable, so why are our operations still old-fashioned?

I asked myself that question quite often. One evening while visiting our local … Read the rest

I Want a Hip Resurfacing But am Concerned About the Negative Response in the Medical Community

Hip Resurfacing Information at Surfacehippy Posted on by

A new member of the Hip Talk Discussion Group is considering hip resurfacing, but very concerned about the negative press and the medical communities not supporting hip resurfacing.

Patricia Walter, owner of the Surface Hippy Website, responded to his concerns about hip resurfacing in the following article:

Hip Resurfacing is a very special method of replacing a hip. Ever since I began this website in 2005, hip resurfacing has never been widely accepted by the medical community. There might be several reasons for that. One is that hemi-resurfacing which only replaced the femoral portion of the device had very poor … Read the rest

12 Year Anniversary for Patricia Walter’s BHR by Dr. De Smet March 15, 2006

Hip Resurfacing Information at Surfacehippy Posted on by

My BHR is 12 years old. I have not ever had any problems with it or my hip. The real problem is that it is doing great while the rest of my 73 year old body is wishing it could also get an overhaul. LOL

Hip resurfacing is still a great option when you are a good candidate. There are very few problems with hip resurfacing for most people. There are always a few who do, unfortunately, have problems. Fortunately, there are not many.

The top experienced surgeons who have done thousands of hip resurfacings continue to have excellent results.  … Read the rest

Questions to Ask Your Hip Resurfacing Surgeon

Hip Resurfacing Information at Surfacehippy Posted on by
You should ask your hip resurfacing doctor as many of the questions that seem appropriate for your situation.  Your doctor should be patient, willing to talk about what to expect and answer your questions.  If he isn’t, I would try to find a doctor that is open and helpful. There are many wonderful hip resurfacing surgeons that will answer any question you have. Having all your questions answered will give you peace of mind and will make your surgery much less stressful. 
Will you perform my hip resurfacing personally or have an assistant do the surgery?
How many resurfacings
… Read the rest

About The Surface Hippy Website

Hip Resurfacing Information at Surfacehippy Posted on by

Patricia Walter Owner/Webmaster of Surface Hippy Website

Patricia Walter Owner/Webmaster of Surface Hippy Website

Hip Resurfacing is very near and dear to my heart and left hip. I believe it is a wonderful alternative to a total hip replacement, if you are a suitable candidate. People with painful hips want to begin living an active life again without pain. They don’t want restrictions to their favorite sports and activities. Hip Resurfacing offers that opportunity to return to a normal active life without the fear of dislocation and other THR restrictions. Hip Resurfacing is also bone conserving. If a revision would be necessary, there is a complete femur … Read the rest

10th Anniversary of my BHR by Patricia Walter Owner/Webmaster

Hip Resurfacing Information at Surfacehippy Posted on by

Today (March 15, 2016) is the 10th anniversary of my BHR (Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Device by Smith and Nephew) surgery.  My BHR is still going strong with no problems at all.  It feels just like my other unoperated hip – normal.

I traveled to Dr. De Smet in Belgium in 2006 because there were not many experienced hip resurfacing surgeons in the US.  Also, I did not have health insurance and could not afford surgery in the US.  Dr. De Smet had performed about 2000 surgeries at that time and was used by many hip patients in the US.  … Read the rest

What Equipment Will I Need At Home After Surgery by Patricia Walter

Hip Resurfacing Information at Surfacehippy Posted on by

What Equipment Will I Need At Home After Surgery?

Everyone has slightly different needs. There are some basic items almost everyone needs and then there are things that some people want and others just don’t need.

Must Haves:

Crutches  – Normally crutches are supplied by the hospital.  I used elbow crutches and they are much easier to use than normal under the arm crutches.  Overseas hospitals use elbow crutches while US hospital still normally use old fashioned under the arm crutches.  If you have to be on crutches for a long time, I would suggest getting a pair of elbow  … Read the rest

Pat’s Corner – Articles by Patricia Walter

Hip Resurfacing Information at Surfacehippy Posted on by

Owner and Webmaster of Surface Hippy

I often have people write to me personally for advice and information.  I have been researching hip resurfacing for about four years.  I had my hip resurfaced March 15, 2006 with Dr. De Smet of Belgium. I have formed many opinions along the way. They are only my opinions from what I have read. I am not trained in any medical field, I am a Mechanical Engineer by profession.  So everything I write about is my opinion based on information I have read.

Articles by Patricia Walter

… Read the rest

2nd Annual Hip Resurfacing Course October 24 & 25, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA

Hip Resurfacing Information at Surfacehippy Posted on by

Updated 10/1/2014

I was very honored to attend the 2nd Annual Hip Resurfacing Course in LA on Oct. 24 & 25, 2008.  The course was to teach new surgeons about hip resurfacing and to allow experienced hip resurfacing surgeons to share their experience. Allied medical professionals also attend the course such as physical therapists, surgeons not performing resurfacing and medical device companies.I hardly have enough words to describe the wonderful experience. I spent two intense days learning about every aspect of hip resurfacing.  I attended sessions about approaches to surgery, patient selection, femoral cementing techniques, metal ion issues, learning… Read the rest

High Metal Ions, Pseudotumors, Metalosis & ALVAL

Hip Resurfacing Information at Surfacehippy Posted on by

Article by Patricia Walter and Hip Resurfacing  Surgeons

Patients and prospective patients are always concerned about the complications that could occur after a hip resurfacing surgery. The typical problems include femur neck fractures, dislocations, loose acetabular cups, improperly positioned acetabular cups, high metal ions, infections, pseudotumors, ALVAL and metalosis.

There has been a lot of discussion among patients on discussion groups about the high metal ion issue and pseudotumors.  I am not a doctor or medically trained.  I am a Patient Advocate, Hip Resurfacing Patient and Mechanical Engineer.  I had the opportunity to attend the  Second Annual U.S. Comprehensive Course … Read the rest

Pat’s Corner – Everyone Recovers At A Different Rate

Hip Resurfacing Information at Surfacehippy Posted on by
Surgery experiences and recovery rates will be different for each person having a hip resurfacing. Many of us were very fortunate to have good experiences in the hospital and have fairly quick recoveries.  I guess we are the Rabbits.

There are people that have experienced very difficult recoveries and their return to a normal life has been very slow.  I guess they are the Turtles.

Some are lucky and have an average recovery which puts them right in the middle of the Rabbits and Turtles – don’t really know what to call them but Average Joes.

There is really no … Read the rest

Pool and Water Exercises and Stretches at Surface Hippy

Hip Resurfacing Information at Surfacehippy Posted on by

Listed below are the Pool Exercises that I used to help my stiff muscles after my Hip Resurfacing. These were not given to me by Dr. De Smet, but designed for me by my PT in the US. There were all very gentle and anytime that I started to be in pain, I was to stop. Each exercise or stretch was designed to be done by both legs. I started with 5 repeats of each exercise and gradually added more over the two months of PT until I was doing about 25 repeats of each. Some of the stretching exercises

… Read the rest

Pat’s Corner – Hip Resurfacing is still an excellent option 2012 despite negative media

Hip Resurfacing Information at Surfacehippy Posted on by

I would like to comment, mostly for the people new to hip resurfacing, about the negative NY Times articles and other media against hip resurfacing. All of this information is one sided. The authors and some surgeons have an agenda against hip resurfacing. The retention rate of the BHR and other devices has been recorded and the records are available to the public. The first place to look are the national registries since they are actual statistics, not opinions:

Also watch the video interviews with the top hip resurfacing surgeons. They address all of this negative press and give a … Read the rest

Pat’s Corner -What if I have a skin allergy to metals?

Hip Resurfacing Information at Surfacehippy Posted on by

Can I have a Hip Resurfacing if I am Allergic To Metals?

Skin allergies to metals does not mean you will be allergic to a hip resurfacing device inside your body at the deep tissue level.  This is a question that many people ask. The best way to know if you can have a hip resurfacing when you have skin allergies to metals is to ask an experienced hip resurfacing surgeon.Dr. Bose has written this explanation about the metal allergy problem: “Allergy after artificial joints is an interesting issue. One must keep in mind that the co-cr-mo alloy has… Read the rest